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Piper Jaffray Companies Announces 2012 First Quarter Results

Piper Jaffray Companies (NYSE: PJC) today announced net income of $2.9 million, or $0.15 per diluted common share, for the quarter ended Mar. 31, 2012. Results included $3.4 million, or $0.18 per diluted common share, of additional income tax expense for writing off equity-related deferred tax assets. For the first quarter of 2011, net income was $7.2 million, or $0.38 per diluted common share. For the fourth quarter of 2011, the firm recorded non-GAAP net income of $2.1 million
(1), or $0.11
(1) per diluted common share. On a GAAP basis, the net loss for the fourth quarter was $116.4 million, or $7.38 per diluted common share. The non-GAAP results excluded the $118.4 million after-tax goodwill impairment charge that the firm recorded in the fourth quarter.

For the first quarter of 2012, net revenues were $117.7 million, compared to $124.8 million in the year-ago period and $99.2 million in the sequential fourth quarter.

“Against a more positive operating environment, we were pleased with our improved first quarter results. Compared to the fourth quarter of 2011, net revenues increased 19% and pre-tax profit on a non-GAAP basis increased seven-fold,” said Andrew S. Duff, chairman and chief executive officer. “Stronger fixed income sales and trading and equity financing revenues, and solid asset management and public finance results drove the improved performance.”

First QuarterConsolidated ExpensesFor the first quarter of 2012, compensation and benefits expenses were $73.5 million, down 3% compared to $75.5 million in the first quarter of 2011. Compensation and benefits expenses increased 15% compared to the fourth quarter of 2011 due to improved financial results.

For the first quarter of 2012, compensation and benefits expenses were 62.4% of net revenues, compared to 60.5% and 64.4% for the first and fourth quarters of 2011, respectively. The compensation ratio declined 50 basis points from the full-year 2011 compensation ratio of 62.9%, which the firm believes is a more accurate comparison.